Manipal University Jaipur Launches International Innovation Challenge IIC 3.0
Manipal University Jaipur Launches International Innovation Challenge IIC 3.0
Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Government of Rajasthan, has inaugurated the International Innovation Challenge (IIC) 3.0, a 36-hour innovation and entrepreneurship challenge designed to encourage young innovators to develop technology-driven solutions to pressing societal and industry challenges.
The third edition of IIC brings together students, entrepreneurs, technology enthusiasts, mentors, industry professionals and academic experts from across India and beyond. The initiative is aimed at providing participants with a platform to transform ideas into practical solutions while gaining exposure to entrepreneurship, emerging technologies and industry requirements.
A National Innovation Platform with a Global Outlook
IIC 3.0 has been organised by the Department of IoT & Intelligent Systems, AIC-MUJ, E-Cell MUJ and DoIC-MUJ. The initiative is co-powered by Unstop, mlHealth 360 Pvt. Ltd., Mahindra & Mahindra Pvt. Ltd., MongoDB, InterviewBuddy, Internshala and Code Crafters, with ICAR, Mysore serving as a partner.
The inaugural ceremony brought together university leadership, industry representatives, mentors, partners and participating teams, setting the stage for an intensive 36-hour innovation challenge.
The event was attended by Prof. Amit Soni, Registrar, Manipal University Jaipur; Prof. Vijaypal Singh Dhaka, Dean, IQAC, MUJ and Convenor, IIC 3.0; and Shri Virendra Choudhary, Director, First India News, who served as the Chief Guest.
Prof. Amit Soni welcomed the dignitaries and participants arriving from institutions across the country and highlighted the legacy and academic ecosystem of Manipal University Jaipur.
Shri Virendra Choudhary inaugurated the challenge by opening the problem statement for IIC 3.0. Addressing participants, he emphasised the importance of developing a robust and future-ready agricultural ecosystem and encouraged young innovators to explore technology and entrepreneurship as tools for addressing challenges in the agriculture sector.
His message placed particular emphasis on the potential of young innovators to combine technology, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking to develop solutions capable of creating meaningful impact in agriculture and other critical sectors.
More Than 900 Students Take Part
The latest edition has received a strong response, with 259 teams comprising more than 900 registered students participating in the first round.
Of these teams, 154 are from Manipal University Jaipur, while 105 teams are from institutions outside MUJ. The participants represent 15 states and more than 70 universities and colleges across India and abroad.
The competition has attracted students from prominent institutions including IIT Bombay, IIT Jodhpur and NIT Lucknow, while an international team from Italy has added a global dimension to the challenge.
The diversity of participating institutions provides students with opportunities to collaborate and compete with peers from different academic backgrounds, while also exposing them to different approaches to innovation and problem-solving.
Tackling Critical Industry and Social Challenges
Participants in IIC 3.0 are developing solutions across 10 critical themes, reflecting some of the major technology and societal challenges facing businesses and communities.
These themes include:
- EdTech
- HealthTech
- FinTech
- AgriTech
- Cybersecurity
- Women and Child Safety
- Aerotech and Aerospace Innovation
- Transportation and Mobility
- Smart Cities and Urban Development
By bringing multiple disciplines together, the challenge aims to encourage participants to move beyond conventional academic problem-solving and explore solutions that can potentially be developed into real-world products, services and businesses.
The inclusion of agriculture as a key theme is particularly relevant to the collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Government of Rajasthan, and the challenge’s focus on building technology-enabled solutions for a future-ready agricultural ecosystem.
Combining Hackathon Experience with Expert Insights
Building on the success of IIC 2.0, which was organised last year, the third edition has been expanded into a broader innovation platform.
Alongside the 36-hour hackathon, IIC 3.0 features expert-led panel discussions addressing contemporary developments across technology, entrepreneurship, education and industry.
The sessions are expected to provide participants with insights extending beyond the competition itself, helping them understand how emerging technologies are influencing businesses, careers and innovation ecosystems.
Discussions will cover areas including artificial intelligence, industry requirements, career planning, innovation and entrepreneurship, higher education and international opportunities.
This combination of hands-on development and expert interaction is designed to give participants a more comprehensive understanding of what it takes to take an idea from an early concept to a potentially viable solution.
Mentors and Industry Experts Guide Participants
IIC 3.0 is supported by a panel of mentors and judges from technology, entrepreneurship, academia and industry.
The panel includes Ankit Jha, Founder, Awarno Technologies; Swati Bansal, SDE, Amazon; Nandini Sharma, Founder, Aparajita Foundation; and Prince Yadav, SDE, GreyOrange.
The international academic and research community is also represented by Dr. Ester Zumpano, University of Calabria, Italy; Dr. Eugenio Vocaturo, CNR-Nanotec, Italy; and Dr. Haiming Liu, Southampton University, UK.
Their involvement provides participants with access to expertise spanning software development, technology, entrepreneurship, research and international academic opportunities.
Through mentorship and judging, participants can receive feedback on their ideas, technical approaches and potential applications, while gaining exposure to perspectives from professionals working across different sectors.
Rewards and Opportunities for Participants
IIC 3.0 also offers financial rewards and professional opportunities to recognise innovative ideas and promising solutions.
The first-place team will receive a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, while the second-place team will receive ₹75,000 and the third-place team will receive ₹50,000.
Beyond the cash prizes, participants will receive goodies as well as opportunities for paid internships. These opportunities could allow promising participants to continue developing their technical and professional skills while gaining practical exposure to industry environments.
The emphasis on internships also adds a career-development dimension to the competition, enabling participants to potentially turn their hackathon experience into longer-term professional opportunities.
Creating an Ecosystem for Young Innovators
For MUJ, IIC 3.0 represents a continued effort to strengthen its innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem by bringing together students, academia, industry and technology partners.
The participation of institutions from across India, along with an international team from Italy and experts from multiple countries, gives the challenge a broader outlook and creates opportunities for cross-cultural and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The 36-hour format is designed to challenge participants to work under time constraints, refine ideas rapidly, collaborate within teams and develop technology-driven solutions to defined problems. At the same time, interaction with mentors and industry experts provides participants with guidance as they move from ideation and prototyping towards more practical applications.
The initiative also reflects the growing role of university-led innovation platforms in helping students develop skills that complement traditional academic learning. Areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, smart cities, mobility, health technology and AgriTech are increasingly influencing the future of industry, creating demand for graduates who can combine technical knowledge with creativity and entrepreneurial thinking.
Turning Ideas into Potential Solutions
With more than 900 students participating in the first round and representation from more than 70 universities and colleges, IIC 3.0 has emerged as a significant student innovation initiative with both national and international participation.
The challenge gives young innovators an opportunity to work on real-world problems while engaging with peers, mentors, industry professionals and researchers. Its focus on technology, entrepreneurship and interdisciplinary collaboration is intended to encourage participants to think beyond prototypes and consider how innovative ideas can eventually create measurable social or commercial value.
As the 36-hour challenge progresses, participating teams will have the opportunity to test their ideas, refine their solutions and present their concepts for evaluation.
With its combination of a national student network, international participation, industry partnerships, expert mentorship and entrepreneurship-focused activities, International Innovation Challenge IIC 3.0 underlines Manipal University Jaipur’s continuing efforts to foster a culture of innovation and equip the next generation of innovators to address complex challenges through technology and collaboration.
